Michael Long is Director of Teaching and Learning at The Purcell School. Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, he moved to the UK in 2008 after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Literature at Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Education at Mount Allison University, both in Halifax.

Before joining Purcell, Michael taught English in comprehensive schools in Hastings and London, where he developed a strong interest in curriculum design, assessment and effective classroom practice. He joined The Purcell School in 2022 as Head of English before shortly taking on the role of Director of Teaching and Learning. He is also an examiner for both GCSE and A Level English.

Michael has a particular passion for the relationship between music and literature, and believes strongly in the power of creative expression across disciplines. At Purcell, he has embedded the study of song lyrics — including the work of Bob Dylan — into the A Level curriculum, encouraging students to explore voice, identity and storytelling in different forms.

Outside of school, Michael writes and performs his own material as a singer-songwriter and with a band across Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. He enjoys spending time with his family and, when possible, keeping up his love of baseball.